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Sensory and vascular changes in a rat monoarthritis model: prophylactic and therapeutic effects of meloxicam

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Abstract

Objective and design

The objective of this study was to determine the ability of meloxicam prophylaxis and therapy to blunt the effect of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced monoarthritis.

Materials and methods

First the validity of this animal model was established by examining joint changes at multiple levels after injecting CFA into the tibio-tarsal joint. Next, meloxicam (5 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered on days 0–7 (prophylactic) and on days 7–16 (therapeutic) in separate groups of animals.

Results

The CFA-injected joint demonstrated hallmark histological and structural changes such as pannus formation, bone remodeling, cartilage erosion and immune cell infiltration. Both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with meloxicam effectively reduced swelling (ankle circumference), oedema and extravasation of Evans blue dye in the affected joint. Moreover, meloxicam reduced loss in range of motion and also reduced mechanical stimulus evoked pain scores. Notably, these effects persisted after discontinuing drug treatment.

Conclusion

The present study provides a unique comparison of prophylactic versus therapeutic effects of meloxicam in the CFA-induced model of monoarthritis.

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Abbreviations

AMPA:

Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CFA:

Complete Freund’s adjuvant

COX-2:

Cyclooxygenase-2

CX3CR1:

Chemokine receptor

ERK:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase

ID50:

Infectious dose to 50 percent of exposed individuals

i.p.:

Intraperitoneal

NMDA:

N-methyl-d-aspartate

NSAID:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

PGE2 :

Prostaglandin E2

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Acknowledgments

We thank Joseph Umoh for expert technical help with micro-computed tomography. This work was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the University of Western Ontario.

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Correspondence to James L. Henry.

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Responsible Editor: J. Di Battista.

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Hashmi, J.A., Yashpal, K., Holdsworth, D.W. et al. Sensory and vascular changes in a rat monoarthritis model: prophylactic and therapeutic effects of meloxicam. Inflamm. Res. 59, 667–678 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-010-0179-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-010-0179-3

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